That explosion in the background? That's the Venomian supply chain being crippled big-time.
- When you fulfill the conditions to continue on an upper or middle route instead of being demoted to a lower route, you don't see "MISSION COMPLETE" at the end of the stage, you see "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" instead.
- The death/defeat of any boss. The Forever Train is a particular favorite for some, when done correctly.
- Fox establishes how badass he and his wingmen are when he defeats the Attack Carrier:Attack Carrier Captain: WHO ARE YOU GUYS?!
Fox: We're Star Fox!
Attack Carrier Captain: YOU'LL NEVER DEFEAT ANDROSS!!! - The team's journey through Area 6 can be considered one. Here you are, outside Andross's front door, and his army's throwing just about everything they have at you. But you just keep plowing through them as they get increasingly desperate. By the boss fight at the end, the enemies are at wit's end trying to find anything that can stop you, and their last resort is their ultimate weapon: a spacestation with a Wave-Motion Gun designed to destroy planets.
- The best part is when R.O.B. actually gets the Great Fox to shoot some targets for you, finally getting in on the action.
- And Pepper's message before the mission. "It's almost over. We are in your debt. Come back in one piece, Fox!" At this moment, you know you are going to end the war if you win.
- Andross reaching Fox through his comm. On one hand, he's trying to break Fox's morale and it can be a bit of a scare for the player, but on the other hand, it shows that Star Fox has gone from "cannon fodder that I can personally ignore" to "actual threat that's tearing up my finest military forces and needs to be addressed now" in the eyes of the big space gorilla.
- In fact, in the easy route of the final showdown, his taunts are completely calm, but in the hard route where you fight the real him...Andross: Now you will feel TRUE pain!
- The Star Wolf battles. They are quite a formidable hybrid between Wolfpack Boss and Mirror Boss, especially during the Venom battle where they are significantly better than the Arwings.
- It's notable that they always have an advantage. In Fichina, you have a time limit or they win. In Bolse, they defend a satellite's core that can already defend itself pretty well. And in Venom Hard Route, their ships are stronger than the Arwings. Which makes beating them in any encounter an accomplishment.
- Star Wolf's now-iconic Pre-Asskicking One-Liner quartet in Fichina:Slippy: Why are enemy ships coming out of the base?
ROB 64: A bomb has been planted at the base.
Fox: Geez! Can anyone take care of it?
(The music cuts out, replaced by Star Wolf's theme
.)
Wolf: Can't let you do that, Star Fox!
Leon: Andross has ordered us to take you down.
Pigma: Peppy! Long time no see! note
Andrew: Andross's enemy is MY enemy!
Fox: Just what I need to see. Star Wolf. Let's take care of these guys first! - Shooting down a member of Star Wolf on "backdoor" Venom fast enough will net you fifty-one points. Defeat all four of them before the time bonus starts to decrease and you'll exceed the medal score of 200 points — a very difficult target if you go into Venom via Bolse — before you even enter the tunnel to Andross. Star Wolf's lines after being shot down make it clear that they can't believe they lost — they were determined to take down Star Fox, they had new ships (even better than the Arwings), and they caught Star Fox unprepared. Star Wolf still loses.Pigma: This can't be happening!
Andrew: Aaaaaaagh!
Leon: He's... too... strong!
Wolf: No way! I don't believe it! - In the same fight, the lines of Star Wolf show that it's not just the ships that got better. For example, Wolf goes from "You are not so tough" to "You are good, but I am better", which shows that he no longer underestimates Fox. Even Andrew is now serious, and doesn't scream for his uncle if you shoot him down.
- During these fights, it's not only possible for you to save your wingmen, but for them to even turn the tables and go on the offensive against their respective attackers. Sure, it can take a long while for them to shoot their respective attackers down, and you don't get any points for it, but if you manage to have all three of them shoot someone down (especially on Venom), it will cement the Star Fox team as a Badass Crew.
- Redirecting the Forever Train on Macbeth so that it blows up the factory. Do so and you will get a massive amount of points, skip a hard boss and open the path to the good ending. In-universe, this destroys the missiles that would have been fired had Star Fox gone to Sector Z, and it basically cripples the war effort for Venom.Peppy: (after shooting the locks to open the main switch) OK, now shoot the switcher!
Forever Train Engineer: Step on the gas! Step on the— (plink)
Peppy: Good goin', Fox!
(The track switches, and the Forever Train starts plowing into barriers on the way to the fuel bunker.)
Forever Train Engineer: NO! Hit the brakes!!!
(CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH)
Forever Train Engineer I CAN'T STOP IIIIIIT!!
(Thunk)
(HIT + 50)
(Beat...)
(BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! BOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM)
(After the "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" screen...)
Fox: All aircraft report!
Slippy: I can see the look on their stupid faces!
Peppy: I'm sure we hurt 'em this time!
Katt (if she's with you): You're pretty good, tiger. See you again!
Falco: Now it's our turn to kick some tail! - The best Katina ending, where the entire surviving Cornerian flight group forms up with the Star Fox team.
- Katina Frontline Base itself can be one of these moments, as it is one of the few times in the game you get to mix it up in a big furball with friendly forces helping you.
- The bad ending has three of them, one being villainous.
- Andross is no fool. He crafted a magnificent plan in the Easy Route, where he made a base inside a well-fortified pyramid, surrounding it with a massive fleet of fighters, a mech that lures Fox into a series of traps coming out from walls, and a corridor full of electric fences. And all of these merely lead to his body double, which can fight back by itself, and its destruction blows up that false base. In short, Easy Venom is a very well-crafted trap, while Andross himself is perfectly safe making it.
- Fox's friends are at their most effective here, and they help shoot down several enemies for you. They even clear a small wave by themselves if they are all active, with style.
- Fox himself gets one, as he survives all the aforementioned traps, easily beats the fake Andross and outruns the explosion all by himself, without assistance from his father. Granted, the corridor was a straight line, but it still takes skills and a good ship.
- Andross also shows competence in the Hard Route. Being reduced to a brain with eyeballs, he merely makes a pun and fights even harder than before. Ripping this grotesque form apart is just as badass for Fox and the player.
- Doubling as a heartwarming moment as well, it's the ending. After defeating Andross's true form on Venom, the ghost of Fox's dad, James McCloud, will appear to Fox and guide him out of the base where he resides. As soon as he's are about to get out, he comments on how Fox has become so strong before flying away from the base. As Fox flees from the base and he arrives with his team, they will congratulate him for defeating Andross before they go home. Even Falco drops his jerk attitude and compliments you!Peppy: Fox! You're okay!
Slippy: Way to go, Fox!
Falco: That's our leader!
(Fox looks at the space, looking for where his father went to)
Peppy: What's wrong, Fox?
Fox: Nothing. Nothing's wrong. - General Pepper at the end of the game if you rack up enough points during the game, specifically more than 780 enemies.General Pepper: This is one steep bill! But it's worth it.
- It becomes a Big "WHAT?!" if you are able to take down 1,094 or more.
- Just how the Great Fox soars with the Star Fox team towards the setting sun, accompanied by triumphant music that hits a high note and instills happy tears. You can straight up feel that not only has the adventure ended (for now), but also that it has been well worth it. Especially when you beat Hard Route Venom - both because you surmounted difficult challenges, and because Andross isn't there to taunt you with his Evil Laugh at the very end like he does after beating Easy Route Venom (and even then it's awesome).
- For the most part, your teammates are useless and annoying, but Falco does have a few good moments:
- If he survives in Corneria, he will show you the way for the Attack Carrier, so he is vital to go to a harder route from the very beginning.
- On Zoness, he helps you destroy a few searchlights, the only other teammate to actually help with that is Kat. One of them is even in a place that you cannot shoot with your lasers (though a bomb can get it), so it really is helpful.
- On Macbeth, he'll shoot one of the switches for you. This is one of the last two, which are on opposite sides of the track and after Mechbeth has started attacking you, so once it again it really does help. He even gets a good line in:"I'm here to rescue you!"
- Falco might be the only direct help on the objectives, but the other teammates are also useful for beginners. Slippy shows the boss healthbars, and Peppy tells the player exactly what they need to do. Also, against Star Wolf, all three distract Wolf's men, allowing you free hits on them.
- In Sector Z, they all actually help shoot down the missiles. While this is bad because their kills don't count on your score and they can rob you of a medal, story-wise they are very useful at protecting the Great Fox and gameplay-wise help you get to two stages full of chances for points and the good ending.
